An action arcade game developed by {{SNK}} that was originally released in 1986 and internationally in 1987. ''Psycho Soldier'' stars Athena Asamiya, a descendant of Princess Athena from SNK's previous game ''VideoGame/{{Athena}}'', and is noteworthy for being the first video game with a vocal in-game soundtrack.

Psycho Soldier is noteworthy for being the first video game to utilize a vocal track during in-game play, with vocals provided by Japanese pop idol Kaori Shimizu (not to be confused with [[Creator/KaoriShimizu the Japanese voice actress]] [[NamesTheSame with the same name]]). This was achieved by creating a JAMMA board that was much larger than usual, and consists of three PCB boards hardwired together and sandwiched on top of each other inside the game cabinet. Her song made Athena one of the earliest video game idols in Japan. Both the Japanese and English-language versions of the game have different vocals for the main song.

The Japanese version of the song was released as a single in 1987 on a special cassette that was available only to those who purchased the Nintendo Famicom version of ''Athena'' in Japanese retail stores. The cassette also included a special vocal version of the ending theme.

Athena and Kensou would go on to be far better known as standards in ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters''.

Not to be confused with SociopathicSoldier.----!!''Psycho Solider'' has examples of:* ActionGirl: Athena* AmericanKirbyIsHardcore: The European and American covers and flyers fit this trope to a T. Here's the [[http://www.psychosoldier.com/images/psychosoldierspectrum.jpg art]].** For extra hardcore points, the model for the poster art is [[http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/tracing/lisalyon2.jpg Lisa Lyon]], a female [[UsefulNotes/{{Bodybuilding}} bodybuilding]] pioneer.* AnimalMotifs: Athena's motif is the phoenix and Kensou's motif is the dragon.* GratuitousEnglish: The Japanese version of ''Psycho Soldier''.* IdolSinger: Athena* ImageSong: ''Psycho Soldier''* {{Joshikousei}}: Athena.* NotableOriginalMusic: There are two versions of the theme song.** [[http://www.psychosoldier.com/Psycho%20Soldier%20(1987%20Japanese-language%20version).mp3 The Japanese version]]** [[http://www.psychosoldier.com/Psycho%20Soldier%20(1987%20English-language%20version).mp3 The English version]]* PsychicPowers* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Athena has pink hair. If ''The King of Fighters'' is to be trusted on this point, she dyes it.** That, or the designers had [[CanonWelding canon-welded]] her character with the title character from ''VideoGame/{{Athena}}'', who had purple hair from the start.----